Wingels and Kennedy in, Irwin out as Sharks face Detroit — plus Babcock on Team Canada, McLellan on the Red Wings

SAN JOSE — The good news this morning was that Tommy Wingels and Tyler Kennedy have been pronounced good-to-go and will be in the lineup tonight when the Detroit Red Wings show up for their one appearance at SAP Center.

The not-so-good news? Matt Irwin won’t be playing because of an upper body injury, presumably the same one that caused him to sit out the second half of Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss in Nashville. Sorry, do not have any details.

The Sharks recalled Matt Tennyson from Worcester for insurance purposes, but he didn’t arrive until after 90 percent of the players had left the ice this morning and won’t be playing. Scott Hannan will, however, after sitting out the last two games as a healthy scratch.

There was almost a total team reunion on the ice this morning as Raffi Torres, Adam Burish and Marty Havlat were skating with their teammates, but don’t look for any of them in the lineup anytime soon.

“They’re all skating but not ready to play,” McLellan said. “They tease you a little bit because you see them and you want them in the lineup, but they’re just physically not ready to play yet and we have to wait.”

Couture wasn’t on the ice, but McLellan said he did stop by the locker room earlier and was in good spirits.

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****Speaking of Couture, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock doubles as Team Canada’s coach and the challenge of the roster selection process, using the Sharks as a point of reference and citing three who did not make the cut.

“All you’ve got to do is look at San Jose. It’s tough here,” Babcock said. “Joe Thornton is a heckuva player. Couture, no one we talked about more than him – and then his injury and stuff like that. Dan Boyle. Two of those guys helped us win a gold medal.”

Interesting that he brought the hand injury up because Couture said he was told that was not a factor in not placing him on the team.

****The only other meeting between the teams in this realigned NHL season ended in a 1-0 shootout victory for the Sharks back at Joe Louis Arena on Oct. 21. Couture scored the winner in the skills competition, but it was a pretty amazing save by Niemi on Todd Bertuzzi that sealed the deal.

So what did Joe Thornton expect for tonight’s game?

“Just very tight-checking,” he said. “I believe low in power plays and penalty kill. Just both teams playing real good defensively. I think we won in a shootout, 1-0, so just a tight game and regular San Jose-Detroit type game.”

The Red Wings have 48 points this season, 12 fewer than the Sharks, and much has been made of the fact Detroit would not be in the playoffs right now had it remained in the Western Conference.

But McLellan wasn’t going down that road in assessing the franchise that previously signed his paycheck.

“Well, the best road team in the league, and that’s really all that matters for us right now because we’re playing at home tonight and then we won’t see them again,” he said.

“When we do a pre-scout, their game is similar. A few nuances from the past. The Zetterbergs, the Datsyuks, the Kronwalls are still driving the team. Looks like Jimmy Howard, his performance last game was exceptional and maybe he gets a boost with the Olympics announcement. So they’re a handful. Their veterans know how to play and it’s rubbed off on the rookies.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

No fair using numbers for lines, DP. The players have changed so often I had to look them up.

John Mango

To the team: James Sheppard, use your size go to the front of the net get some dirty goals and prove you belong in the NHL; Joe Thornton, thank you for being you and playing Hall of Fame hockey for so many years now; Jason Demers, take note of Jumbo’s play and learn, consistency is the name of the game, show some, and you have the talent to score more, so just do it; finally TMac, free Al Stalock and play the guy a little bit more, he’s energetic, move the puck well, aids the transition offense and quite frankly the team has been playing better in front of him as of late, so play the guy!

MLBSF

Always fun playing Detroit. But considering the way we’ve been playing, put me down as not having a lot of hope for tonight. Believe you me.

EastBayRad

Believe you me, you still know nothing about the game and obviously 7 missing forwards doesnt mean anything to you…. Ill be at the game tonight and sat against boston watching my boys win their way to another post season. BELIEVE YOU ME!

renoshark

Agree on Stalock. Thought maybe he should have gotten the start tonight. I’d go, for now anyway, with Stalock as 1A and Nemo as 1B. I know the staff is trying to get Nemo back in his 2012-2013 groove but I’m just not seeing it, yet. Not sure if we have enough firepower to beat a well rested Detroit team that hasn’t played for 5-days. It would help though if Pavel is out.

ice

your douchebag level has reached heights unseen before in the history of the internet. congratulations. also, you deserve a swift and hardy kick in the balls any time you use the phrase “believe you me” or “smh”.

Buddy Elf

Very, very happy to see 8/19/88 line…

Phat Stat Phil

Wait a sec. Isn’t it supposed to be the Pavs, Desjardins, Burns line that Zeke raves about?

Phat Stat Phil

Someone hasn’t been looking through stats pages enough!!! ; )

Beer League Rocks

I loved to look thru the stat pages in the Sunday paper, when I was 12

Beer League Rocks

NHL.com reporting that Couture had surgery on his right hand.

Wilma Mermelstein

I completely agree with you on Sheppard and all your other comments. I believe that the reason Stalock isn’t getting more games is that Niemi’s confidence is in the dumps and starting a goalie competition now might really have a bad effect on him.
Glad to a few guys back tonight. Let’s go Sharks.

Phat Stat Phil

Man. I am shocked that the Red Wings let Ian White go. He’s playing in the CSHL right now.

Phat Stat Phil

So was DP in the last post.

PattyWakBakersMan

Good thing NHL 14 hasn’t updated the rosters. With all the Sharks injuries I would be getting creamed online.

PattyWakBakersMan

Sharks beat Chicago the other night with even more decimated roster than the one they Ice tonight. So anything could happen.

Beer League Rocks

DP reported hand surgery but not which hand.

John Mango

Good comments in here. Would expect nothing less from a Nor Cal crowd…smart population. I’m sure there are exceptions, but you guys should see the knuckleheads that comment on some of the blogs down here in SoCal.

John Mango

All are entitled to their opinion, but what sounds a little bit like giving up hope before the game is even played…well, you can do better than that, can’t you? I’m hopeful the Sharks will be better than that!

John Mango

Funny reply ice, but you’re better than name calling. Calling Dustin Brown and expletive for example, would in all likelihood be justified. Maybe save the name calling for those worthy ;).

Buddy Elf

You must not have been around here much.

Buddy Elf

Look at BLR using numbers in his post.

The next PSP!

Beer League Rocks

Lmao

Beer League Rocks

That poster is a skid mark on this blog, a stain. He has also been called a rash or nasty itch. Also the red x. He has nothing good to say about the sharks, usually predicts a loss.

MLBSF

True John but this team disappoints me year after year. I know them like a book.

Having said that, they’ve owned the Red Wings lately, so maybe the Sharks will surprise me.

MLBSF

This is true. I will say the Sharks are a different team at home, despite the lackluster environment.

MLBSF

Well have a good time. I hope they win!!

MLBSF

LOOOOOOOL. Well we have knuckleheads here as well. Believe you me!

Beer League Rocks

Check out the itch trying to scratch some attention from a new poster and a few others.

Beer League Rocks

Great pass and patience by Jumbo (I was thinking shoot Joe). Pavelski is on fire. What is that,11 goals in his last 15 games?

SCSharksFan

Perfect example, aye?

Clemenza

Look at Desi! Great goal.

Clemenza

I think I need to get a hat ready…..

Buddy Elf

“Not having a lot of hope.”

Smh

renoshark

I wonder how much fun “hondr” is having right about now? Sitting on his Winged Wheel bean bag in his Nik Lidstrom pajamas watching a Doug Wilson team throttle a Ken Holland team can’t be much fun. 😉

SCSharksFan

Believe you me!!!

SCSharksFan

Do you think those PJs come with or without the stocking foot?
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Buddy Elf

Called it.

Buddy Elf

Bet the Nut will lose his self control again to come tell us that of course the sharks should win the game since they are playing against the wings backup

Beer League Rocks

No need to troll for the troll that’s not trolling…

renoshark

Stocking foot type for sure. 😉

MLBSF

LOOOOOOOOOL!! Some of hondr’s worst meltdowns were almost as bad as Buddy Elf’s infamous breakdowns.

My favorite hondr meltdown was after the Sharks paddled Detroit’s behind one game in San Jose, hondr told everyone it’s not fair that the Red Wings have to play night games on the west coast because it’s past their bedtimes.

That was a cheap shot, but in old time hockey Gordie Howe was Mr elbows

renoshark

Demers and Stuart both got banged up tonight and Irwin was scratched with an upper-body injury. Demers looked like he was hurt by a puck but hopefully he’ll be good by Saturday. Tennyson might be in line-up if Stuart and Irwin are both out.